First 15 Quotations: An Inspector Calls

You will learn many more quotations from the play as we study it and revise it in Year 10. Each week for the next
five weeks you should also focus on learning the quotations below. Complete a close analysis card for each
quotation as part of your homework.

W1 1. ‘Birling: You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted”

2. ‘Birling: The Titanic – she sails next week – […] New York in five days – and every luxury – and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’
3. ‘Birling: community and all that nonsense’

4. ‘Birling: If you don't come down hard on these people, they'll soon be asking for the earth. // Goole: better to ask for it that to take it.’
W2
5. ‘Inspector: burnt her inside out of course […] she was in great agony.’
6. ‘The lighting should be pink and intimate until the INSPECTOR arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder.’

W3 7. ‘Sheila: These girls aren’t cheap labour. They’re people.’

8. ‘Gerald: Sorry – I – well, I’ve suddenly realized – taken it in properly – that she’s dead.’
9. ‘Mrs Birling: You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate.’
W4
10. ‘Mrs Birling: Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of.’
11. ‘Eric: I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”
12. ‘Inspector: We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.’
W5
13. ‘Inspector: The time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.’
14. ‘Gerald: Everything’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?’
15. ‘Eric: You lot may be letting yourself out nicely, but I can’t… we did her in all right.’
Who: Goole
When: just before his exit,
after the
About: the need for change
Code it
Writer’s message:
If we do not start to care for
one another, then society will
continue to suffer.
Theme: In particular…
Punishment for exploitation of others. The need for change in
the way we govern out society and protect the most ‘Anguish’ is particularly
vulnerable. The determination of Socialism to force society to emotive. Conveys the
accept responsibility. intensity of suffering that
people endure, but also the
Character: Goole shown as powerful, determined, suffering that will be caused
threatening, committed to cause. but failure to change.
Key Quotation Tone: serious, almost
threatening. Shows how
Inspector: ‘will be taught it in fire determined he is to be heard.
‘Will’ gives a sense of
and blood and anguish’ certainty, adding to the
ominous threat.
Effect on reader or audience: Makes the audience realise the Context:
risks of not changing their society. Changes the perception of Links to the fire and anguish
Goole too – he is not speaking as a police officer here. We of WW1, but also to the pain
hear the socialist propaganda clearly. Fully mouthpiece for and suffering experienced by
Priestley/socialism here. the working classes during
the 1900s.
Who: Theme: In particular…

When:

About: Character:

Code it Key Quotation Tone:

Writer’s message: Effect on reader or audience: Context: